James May confirms: The new Legacy Diesel can get 63mgp!

[1996Battlewagon]

Just got done watching the new Top Gear, where they were given a challenge to drive from Basel Switzerland to Blackpool England (about 700miles) on one tank of fuel. Each presenter picked a bone stock production car, and James May picked the 09 Legacy Diesel estate (wagon FTW). Even though he lost the challenge to arrive first (on account of being captin slow), he still managed to get an average of 63mpg. Pretty damn good for a wagon; if only they would allow it to come to the states (damn Cali).

Here's a clip if you don't believe me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBcCUGqxQCk (fast foward to about 3:30 if you'd like, and act quick before the BBC takes it off youtube).

[2.5GT]

That's a sharp looking wagon :eek:

[99SUS SFD]

Video is down. :-(

Sounds cool though...

[99gtlimited]

yeah BBC wasn't having any of that :lol:

[Plays_with_Toys]

It was bloody amazing. I found a few videos on streetfire including an uninterrupted season 12 episode 3 ;)

[Zedhead]

If they'd bring it over. There's no way it'd get the same mileage, after the EPA got done choking the exhaust. Prolly loose 15-20 MPG

I still can't figure out why Americans are so damned anti diesel?

[Grafton]

bc it's like the head of ford's US market stated when asked about there ~65mpg diesel car

“We know it’s an awesome vehicle,” says Ford America President Mark Fields. “But there are business reasons why we can’t sell it in the U.S.”

"Americans see hybrids as the darling,” says Global Insight auto analyst Philip Gott, “and diesel as old-tech.”

[Huffer]

It's a marketing issue. People equate a diesel with a smoke-puffing cargo truck.

[97legacygt]

Manufactures can't bring their diesels here because like Huffer said, the public still thinks of the diesel from the 70s that blew a lot of smoke and were not that reliable such as the 350 diesel that Chevy made from the 350 gas engine. Another reason why they can't bring it over is because it would require a lot of money and research to get it emission legal in the states. The emission standards for diesels the past couple of years have gone through the roof with restrictions.

[1996Battlewagon]

It's a marketing issue. People equate a diesel with a smoke-puffing cargo truck.

You're right, and that is one of the problems. The thing is, modern diesels are not loud, dirty, carbon shooting industrious machines (like my good friend's 92 F250), they are actually quiet and clean. If you can get ahold of that episode of Top Gear, they bring up the question of why would someone buy a hybrid instead of a diesel. The diesel's entry and maintance cost is cheaper, they have more power, get equal if not better fuel mileage, and are 'actual' cars. They have gears and traditional driving positons; Prius's have CVT's (the stupidest device ever to be put on a car) and user-unfriendly controls. Of course, diesel prices, regulations, and taxations are different across the pond then over here in the states.

If only we could educate people on the improvements made to diesel technology, change the taxation, and tell California to STFU; maybe we could import some impresive pieces of technology. But, that will never happen......... oh well. What will happen though is that people will continue to buy into the hybrid hype and pay nearly 70% more for a extra battery that is just going to have to be replaced in ten years or is going to cause an electrical fire in an accident and the emergency crews won't come to their rescue.

[Plays_with_Toys]

Two very simple words... Trucking Industry.

You honestly think that in a country so dominated by trucks used to transport goods all over the states that run on diesel they'd want to pump in more demand for a limited supply of fuel? Shipping costs would raise and product cost would go up. So, they make it hard for car companies to push through a diesel here in the states.

I'm excited about algae oil. One of the senior design projects here at my school is a design study to run a john deere turbo diesel on algae oil. It has a very high oil output per acre, and is really easy to grow compared to ethanol based fuels.

[Zedhead]

Manufactures can't bring their diesels here because like Huffer said, the public still thinks of the diesel from the 70s that blew a lot of smoke and were not that reliable such as the 350 diesel that Chevy made from the 350 gas engine. Another reason why they can't bring it over is because it would require a lot of money and research to get it emission legal in the states. The emission standards for diesels the past couple of years have gone through the roof with restrictions.


Umm, Just to set You straight. The Gm 350 CID diesel was NOT a converted gas motor. It was based on the Detroit Diesel. The only thing it shared with the 350 CID Gas engine, was displacement

The new Diesels are anything but Old Tech. Take a look under the hood of todays diesel trucks. HUEI Common Rail, Direct injection, Piezo Electric Injectors, Twin Turbo, Intercooled .... ect, ect ect.

[Grafton]

but thats not what the "public" aka the majority of miss informed idiots that live in this country think

[track8]

Umm, Just to set You straight. The Gm 350 CID diesel was NOT a converted gas motor. It was based on the Detroit Diesel. The only thing it shared with the 350 CID Gas engine, was displacement.Actually it was an Oldsmobile 350, poorly modified to be a diesel. At least the one from the early '80s was. Many were converted to run on gasoline by swapping heads and fuel system bits and in that form they lasted a long time. A good friend modified his Cutlass in this fashion.

In fact, at the time, Olds racers used the diesel blocks as starting points as they are stronger than the one made for gas applications.

[Zedhead]

This topic has been hashed for years. Do a little research, it's been stated by many high ups at GM that the rumor of it BEING A CONVERTED GAS MOTOR are not true.

http://members.tripod.com/~A350Diesel/faqs.html

http://olds-diesel.com/

[track8]

If stating "completely different block" means its totally different, yet shares bore spacing, head bolt pattern, bore, stroke, cam bores, valve covers, valve geometry, and much more, well than by that definition sure, it's not based on an Olds 350. Like an EJ22 isn't based on an EJ20. Or a 350 Chevy is nothing like a 265 Chevy. Add cross bolted mains and move 4 head bolts and a 426 Hemi block is no longer related to a 426 Wedge? I've got a nice bridge for sale too.

Fact is, if there is that much interchangeability it's not a totally different animal. If GM engineers want to deny the relation, that's not my problem.

Back to the topic.

[Zedhead]

To Me, it it's got a different cast block, it's a different motor.

[rougeben83]

actually it's around 54-ish mpg in US terms, Imperial gallon > US gallon (4.4L vs 3.8L).